Moving picture machine safety device



, R. HENRI ET AL MOVING PICTURE MACHINE SAFETY DEVICE Filed Oct. 6, 1927 April 17, 1934.

3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR$ 7804a? yew-i 4 (furs.

Apnl 17, 1934. R. HENRI El AL MOVING PICTURE MACHINE SAFETY DEVICE Filed Oct. 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TORi Peter? enr 7 7 ftims.

7!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/ BY I ATTORNEY.

III /IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIIIIIIII April 17, 1934.

R. HENRI ET AL MOVING PICTURE MACHINE SAFETY DEVICE Filed Oct. 6, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 62 1? I23 66 56 5% 132 7 8 O 69 57 54 iii, JL

I N V EN TOR; Po er? lfekrz.

Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOVING PICTURE MACHINE SAFETY DEVICE Robert Henri and Floyd ll. Akins, Detroit, Mich. Application October 6, 1927, Serial No. 224,315

4 Claims. (Cl. 88-") Our invention relates to a. new and useful im- The invention will be best understood by a provement in a moving picture machine safety reference to the accompanying drawings which device. and par ticularly an automatic projector form a part of this specification and in which, control whereby, upon the stopping of the film Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the wirfor any reason, in its usual travel for projecting ing of the invention. a purposes, the motor driving the winding or un- Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section through a prowinding apparatus will be shut off and stopped. jection machine showing the invention applied. and the projecting light shut oil from access to parts of the invention being shown particularly the film. in side elevation.

It is an object of the present invention to pro- Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken on substanvide a mechanism of this class and to eliminate tiaily line 3-3 of Fig. 2. damage commonly resulting to the film from fire Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the inside and the damage commonly resulting to the proof one of the switch housings used in the invenjector booth from fire because of the continued tion.

u projection of light rays against the film at one Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of p ace. Fig. 4.

It is another object of the invention to provide Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of the dowser an automatic safety projector control of this with the housing cover removed. class which will be positive in action. Fig. 7 is a. view taken on substantially line 7-7 Another object of the invention is the provision of Fig. 6. 7 of an emergency control switch which, upon Fig. 8 is a view taken on substantially line 8-8 movement of the device to inoperative position, of Fig. 7. remains open until the projecting machine is run- Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view taken on substanning and ready to project and the dowser mechatially line 99 of Fig. 8.

nism moved to inoperative position. Fig. 10 is a view taken on substantially line Another object of the invention is the provision 10-10 of Fig. 2, showing the switch box cover of an automatic safety control of this clam which partly broken away. an be asily and qui y al d on my typ Fig. 11 is a view taken on substantially line of machine by a person possessing the skill of the 11-11 of Fig, 10.

3o ordinary pr l Fig. 12 is a view taken on substantially line Another object of the invention is the pro- 13 1z f1i 1 7 vision of a safety control of this class which 00- In the drawings 1 have illustrated the m cuples minimum space and in no tion applied to a conventional type of projection manner would hinder the projectionist when machine, only the parts. of which are hm threading up his machine or making minor repairs, and yet which can be easily hm d1 ed when which are necessary for illustration of the inven 90 tion. making changes.

Another object of the invention isthe provision the drawing-s I have mustrmd will of a safety control device which may be used on m which is mounted the m ml 15 from a-multiple of machines and which will permit a the mm 16 is wound and W changemver' automatically projecting one housing 17 in which the other spool is positioned. chine while the other is in operation. A 18 13 mmmted the housing 14 to nude Another object of the invention is the prothe m 16 m 1mm the vision a mechanism whereby a change-over whence it passes between mile" 19 mum! 5 between two machines may be made instantaner0119! mum! feed drum to the we ously without any interruption. member or heavy feed loop 22, from which the Another object of the invention is the provision mm is brought dwnwardly ill from of the 9 in a mechanism of this class of a swingably jection machine nose 23, from which the light mounted dowser provided with a catch to elimi- 75 emanate toward the ap ur 3' to St ke nate oscillation for movement from one position against the m nd as the 1111 8 p n the og to another. screen used therewith. The feed drum 24 en- Other objects appear hereinafter. Bases the film, a roller 25 serving to press the The invention consists in the combination and film against this feed drum 24'. The iilm then arrangement of parts hereinafter described and passes downwardly to form the take-up loop 26, claimed. and thence around the feed drum 2'! beno tween rollers 28 and 29, and thence inwardly of the housing 17 between rollers 30 and 31.

It will be noted that the film 16 is taut between the rollers 28 and 29 and the feed drum 27, and in the ordinary operation of a projection machine, this tautness remains so that should the film at this point become slack, for any reason, some disarrangement or dislocation of the mechanism or the film has become effected, and attention of the projectionists would be necessary lest serious damage should result. Because of the fact that the film in its passage before the projection aperture 23' is alternately retarded and accelerated, the loops 22 and 26 must be present so that should these loops disappear it would be only because the mechanism is not properly functioning, or either the mechanism or the film has become disarranged.

The invention embodies a housing or casing 32, projecting outwardly from which is a shaft 33 upon which is fixedly mounted a hub 35 held in position on the shaft by the nut 34. Projecting outwardly from this hub 35 is the arm 36 carrying on its end a disc or dowser 37. Projecting outwardly from the hub 35 is an operating handle 38. Rotatable with the shaft 33, interiorly of the housing or casing 32, is an arm 39.

Mounted in the casing or housing 32 is a plate 40 of insulating material. Mounted upon this plate 40 is a metallic plate 43 having its ends angularly turned to provide the outwardly projecting bracket-forming plates 41 and 42. Mounted upon and insulated from the bracketforming plate 42 and projecting downwardly from .the inner surface thereof are spaced contacts 44 and 45, these contacts terminating in threaded ends for the reception of nuts 46 and 47 which will serve as binding means to clamp electrical connections thereon. A plate 48 serves to establish electrical connection between the contacts 44 and when in engagement therewith,

this plate 48 being fixedly mounted on the rod 49 which is slidably projected through the bracket-forming plates 41 and 42, and provided with a spring 243 adapted to engage at one end the 'undersurface of the plate 48 and at the other end a flange 50 on the sleeve 50' fixedly mounted upon the shaft 49. A hearing 51 projects from the plate 41 and serves as a bearing for the shaft 49. Embracing the shaft 49 is a coil spring 52, one end of which engages the lower surface of this hearing 51 and the other end of which engages the upper surface of a collar 53 pinned to the shaft 49. This spring 52 serves to normally retain the shaft 49 moved downwardly to retain the plate 48 spaced from the contacts 44 and 45. I

Mounted upon the plate 40 is a metallic plate 54 having its ends angularly turned to provide the outwardly projecting bracket-forming plates 55 and 58. Mounted upon and insulated from and projecting upwardly from the bracket-forming plate 55 are spaced abutments 5"! and 59, the abutment, 57 being provided with the nut 58 and" the abutment 59 being provided with the nut 60.

Mounted upon and insulated from and projecting downwardly from the bracketforming plate 56 are spaced contacts 61 and 63, these contacts being provided with the nuts 62 and 64 respectively, whereby a wire or other suitable electrical conductor can be connected thereto. Projected through the bracket-forming plates 56 and 55 slidably, and extending exteriorly of the housing 32, is a rod or shaft 65 having an enlarged portion intermediate its ends, tapering toward both ends, opposite sides of this enlargement being in the form of truncated cones 66 and 67, having their bases in engagement with each other. A ring 68 slidably embraces the rod 65 and is provided with a spring ring 69 on its inner surface adapted to engage the portions 67 and 66 upon movement of the shaft or rod 65 in either direction a predetermined distance. When the rod 65 is pressed downwardly relatively to the ring 68, (see Fig. 6), until the line of separation of the portions 67 and 66 passes the center of the spring ring 69, this spring ring 69 will engage the upwardly tapering portion 66 and through its contracting pressure on this portion, snap the ring or plate 68 upwardly into engagement with the contacts 61 and 63. When the rod is moved oppositely, a snapping of the member 68 against the abutments 57 and 59 will result.

Mounted in the housing 32 is an electro-magnetic coil 70 having a core 71 axially movable therein.

A latch member'72' is-swingably mounted on the base of the housing 32 and adapted upon swinging of the dowser 37 into operative or shielding position forlatching over the end of the arm 39 and preventing a rocking or swinging of the dowser after it has been moved to downward or operative and shielding position. A stop screw 73 is threaded through a boss '14 which is formed on the base of the housing, the end of this screw 73 being adapted for engag g the face of the arm 39 when swung downwardly into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

Rotatably mounted on the shaft '33 and insulated therefrom is a drum 75 having on its periphery a metallic strip or contact '76 adapted. upon movement of the drum 75 to a predetermined position, for closing electrical connections between the contacts 7'7 and 78.

As shown in Fig. 2 there is mounted on the 9 rear of the housing 32 a switch box 79 having lateral flanges provided with slots 81 in which screws or bolts 80 may project for fastening this switch box on the housing 32 in various positions of vertical adjustment. Extending outwardly from the switch box 79 is an arm 82 carrying on its outer end a roller 84, and having its inner end angularly turned to form an axis for the drum 83 formed from insulating material and provided on its periphery witha metallic contact plate 85 to close connection between the contact arms 86 and 87 which ride on its periphery, these arms being connected by the wires-88 and 89 respectively to contacts which may be engaged by the contact plug 88', projecting outwardly from which are the wires 88 and 89.

The mechanism in the housings 79 and 90 is identical in structure and the description of one will apply to both.

The housing 90 is provided with the slot 91. through which the bolt 92 may be projected for securing this housing on the top of the casing or housing 1'7. Projecting outwardly from the housing 90 is the arm 91' having the roller 92' adapted to engage the film 16 at the taut portion between the feed drum 2'7 and the rollers 28 and 29. The roller 84 is adapted to engage the heavy feed loop 22.

An arm 93 is rockingly mounted on the shaft 94 and provided with a roller 95. Mounted on the superstructure extending upwardly from the housing 17 is a switch box 96 provided on its whereby the switch box may be mounted on this superstructure. Formed in the housing 96 is a projection 98 having an opening 99 provided therein in which engages an insulating plug having contacts 101 and 102 projecting therefrom, these contacts being connected to the contacts 108 and 109 and adapted for engaging the contacts in the socket plug 103 into which lead the wires 104 and 105. Projecting into the interior of the housing 96 is a plunger 106 about which is positioned in embracing relation the spring 107, one end of this spring engaging a head on the plunger 106 and the other end engaging the bracket 97.

Carried by the contact 109 is a housing 112 in which is slidably mounted a plunger 110 adapted to project from one end thereof so as to provide an engaging portion for engaging the contact 108 when pressed thereagainst. This plunger 110 is normally pressed outwardly of the housing 112 by means of the spring 111 which is positioned in the housing and which is retained in position in the housing 112 by means of the plug 113.

The construction of this mechanism is such that upon losing of the take-up loop 26 the film will be brought into engagement with the roller 95 and cause a rocking of the arm 93 and raising it to permit the plunger 106 to move outwardly sufficiently to allow the contacts 108 and 109 to disengage, these contacts being normally held in engagement by the pressure exerted on the plunger 106 by the arm 93.

In the diagrammatic view we have shown the feed wires 115 and 116 connected to a knife blade switch 117. Normally, for an initial operation of the mechanism, in order to start the operation of the motor, the operator would press downwardly on the shaft 65 so as to move the plate 68 into engagement with the contacts 61 and 63. After the motor "was in operation the desired length of time, and it was desired to cast the image upon the screen, the dowser 37 would be manually swung over into inoperative position. the latch '72 releasing the arm 39 for this movement, as this latch is so arranged as to yield in sufllcient pressure. The arm 39 would then strike the shaft 49 and force it upwardly to move the shaft 65 upwardly, and thus effect a disengagement of the disc 68 from the contacts 61 and 63, this disc 68 moving downwardly into engagement with the abutment members 5'! and 59, while at the same time, the plate 48 would move into engagement with the contacts 45 and 44, the arm 39 being held in this position, provided the coil was ener ized.

The feed wire 115 is connected through the wire 118 and the plug 119 to the contact 61, and by the wire 120 to the contact 44, the contact 45 a being connected by the wire 121 to the contact 63, this contact 63 being connected through the plug 119 by means of the wire 122 to one side of the motor 123. the other sde being connected by the wire 124 to the feed wire 116. It is thus seen that when the shaft 65 is moved downwardly, and the disc 68 brought into engagement with the contacts 61 and 63. that a circuit to the motor 123 is established, andthe motor set into operation. The contact 61 is connected through the pilot light 125 and the coil 70 to the wire 126 which is connected through the plug 127 to the wire 128, this wire 128 extending into the plug 129 and connecting to the wire 130 which'connects to the contact 77' of the change-over or auxiliary set.

As shown in the diagrammatic view, when the dowser 37' is in operative position, the contact 7'7 engages the contact 76', as does likewise the contact 78' which is connected by the wire 131 through the plug 129, through the switches 96, 90 and '79, and thence by means of the wire 132 to the feed wire 116, through the switch 117. It is thus seen that when the plate 68 is brought into engagement with the contacts 61 and 63 and the motor set into operation, that the coil 70 is energized, so long as the switches 79, 90 and 96 are closed, together with the contacts 77' and 78.

When the dowser 3'7 is swung from operative to inoperative position so as to force the rod or shaft 65 to travel upwardly and the plate 68 to disengage the contacts 61 and 63, the plate or disc 48 is brought into engagement with the contacts 44 and 45. so that the circuit to the motor is established, the energized coil '70 sewing to retain the dowser 3'! in inoperative position, and the machine will continue to function in this manner so long as the necessary circuits are established.

Should the film betweenthe rollers 28 and 29. and the feed drum 27, become slackened so that the arm 91 might rock sufllcientlyto rotate the drum 83, to bring the contact out of engagement with the contacts 86 and 87, the circuit would be broken.

Similarly, should the loops 26 or 22 become lost for any reason, the circuit would be broken, the coil 70 de-energized, and the dowser 37 swung by gravity into operative or shielding position, while at the same time, the motor 123 would stop.

It will be noted that the contacts 77 and 78 are not in engagement with the contact 76 when the dowser 37 is in inoperative position, this closing of the circuit taking efl'ect only when the dowser is in operative or shielding position.

As the dowser swings downwardly the latch member 72 prevents, on account of its engagement with the arm 39, any oscillation or rocking of the dowser.

When it is desired to change-over, the parts would be in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the dowser 37' in downward or operative and shielding position. In order to eiiect the changeover, the shaft or rod 65 would be pressed downwardly so as to bring the plate 68. into engagement with the contact 61' and 63', and thereby the crcuit to the motor 123' would be established. Tracing this circuit beginning with the wire 115', the circuit would be as follows: From the wire 115 through the switch blade 117, the wire 118', through the plug 119 to the contact 61', through the plate 66' to the contact 63' and through the wire 122' to one side of the motor 123', the other side of the motor 123 is connected by the wire 124' through the switch to the wire 116'. Thus while the parts remain in the pomtion shown in Fig. 1, excepting that the plate 68 has been moved into engagement with the contacts 61' and 63', both motors 123 and 123' will be in operation.

When the motor 123' has attained the desired speed, the dowser 37' would be normally swung into inoperative or non-shielding position. In moving to this position; the arm 39' would engage the rod or shaft 49' and force it upwardly to engage the shaft or rod 65' and move it upwardly, thus causing the plate or disc 68' to disengage from the contacts 61' and 63' and move into engagement with the abutment members 57 and 59', thus the circuit established to the motor 123 through the contacts 61' and 63' would be broken, but at the same time the plate 48' would engage the contacts 44' and 45' and thus maintain the circuit to the motor 123 closed. In order to maintain the dowser 37 in this nonshielding position, and in this position the arm 39 will now be moved to horizontal position so as to engage the core of the coil it will be necessary that the coil 70' be energizedto retain the arm 39' in this position. This is efiected through a closing of the circuit to the coil 70' by virtue of the contact 76 being brought into engagement with both of the contacts 77 and 78. When the contacts 77 and 78 are connected to each other through engagement with the contact 76, the circuit to the coil 70' would be as follows: From the wire 115' to switch 117 wire 118', through plug 119' to contact 61', through light 125' to one side of the coil 70', the other side of thecoil would be connected by the wire 126 through plug 127', wire 128' through plug 129 to wire 130' to contact 78, through contact 76 to contact 77 to wire 131' through plug 129' through switches 96', 90', 79, by wire 132 to one side of the switch 117' to wire 116'. In order that the dowser 37 may move downwardly into position so that the contact 77 and 78 may be engaged by the contact 76, it would be necessary that the coil 70 be de-energized. This de-energizing of the coil 70 is effected as soon I as the dowser 37 moves a slight distance from operative or shielding position to inoperative or non-shielding position as the contact 77' would be disengaged from the contact 76', inasmuch as the circuit to the coil 70 is established through these contacts. The circuit to the coil 70 may be traced as follows: The wire 115 through the switch 117, wire 118, through plug 119 to contact 61, through light 125 to one end of the coil 70, the other end of the coil 70 connects by the wire 126, through the plug 127, to wire 128 through plug 129 to wire 130 to contact 77, through contact 76' to contact 78' to wire 131, through plug 129 switches 96, 90, and 79, to wire 132 to one side of the switch 117 to which the wire 116 is connected.

Thus the dowser 37' will be held in inoperative or non-shielding position while the dowser 37 will have moved downwardly to shielding or operative position. At the same time, the circuit to the motor 123 will 'be broken. When the dowser 37 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the circuit to the motor 123 would be as follows: From the wire 115 through the switch blade 117, the wire 118, and through the plug 119, to contact 61 through wire 120, to contact 44 through plate 48 to contact 45 by wire 121 to contact 63 through plug 119 to wire 122 to one side of the motor 123. The 0 her side of the motor 123 is connected by the ire 124 through the switch 117 to the wire 116.

When the arm 39 swings downwardly, when the coil 70 is de-energized, the plate 48 will move downwardly out of engagement with the contacts 44 and 45 and thus this circuit to the motor 123 will be broken. I

Consequently, it is seen that when the dowser of one of the machines is moved from operative or shielding position to inoperative or nonshielding position, the other machine is automatically cut out and the dowser moved to operative or shielding position. This is effected inasmuch as the dowsers are held in inoperative position by the electro magnet. As shown in Fig. 1, when the dowser 37 is moved into inoperative position, in which position the dowser is illustrated in Fig. 1, there will be no circuit through the wires 130. and 131' as the contact 76 is not in engagement with the contacts 77 and 78. Consequently, the circuit to the electro magnet 70' will be opened. This electro magnet will be de-energized and the dowser 37' will swing downwardly into position as shown in Fig.1,

which is the operative position. At the same time, the contact 76 will engage the contacts 77' and 78' thus closing the circuit to and energizing the electro magnet 70 and thus providing the means for retaining the dowser 37 in inoperative or non-shielding position. The plate 68 together with the contacts 61 and 63 or the plate 68' together with the contacts 61' and 63' may be termed a control switch for the mechanism, and the plate 48 together with the contacts 44 and 45 or the plate, 48' together with the contacts 44' and 45 may be termed an auxiliary switch.

It is evident that these machines are worked conjointly together, and that different numbers of units may be coupled together without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In making a change-over, it is desirable that never at any time should two pictures show on the screen at once. With this mechanism installed, as described, as the dowser of the machine about to be used begins its swinging movement from operative or. shielding position, to inoperative or non-shielding position, the circuit to the cooperating machine is broken, and the dowser in that machine released for swinging to shielding position, thus preventing an overlapping of the pictures on the screen.

With this mechanism installed as described, safety in operation is eifected should the film become torn, fail to feed, bind, or in any other manner become disarranged, so that a prolonged display of the fihn before theaperture 23 would be efiected as the dowser will immediately function to cut off the light from the film. Furthermore, should for any reason the supply of electrical energy to the magnetic coil be terminated, such as through the blowing of a fuse, the breaking of a feed line, or the failure of the machinery in the power plant to function, the dowser will immediately be released and move to operative or shielding position. This is important as should the supply of electrical energy from the power plant be disconnected to the electro-magnet for any reason, the motor would cease to operate, while the light striking against the film would not be aifected, as this light may be-produced from a separate source of electrical energy.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred form of our invention, we do not wish to limit ourselves to the precise details of structure shown, but desire to avail ourselves of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters l1 atent is:

1. A mechanism of the class described, adapted for use with a plurality of film projecting maposition to another for controlling the circuit to said magnetic means of another dowser.

2. A mechanism of the class described adapted for use with a plurality of film projecting machines comprising: a dowser for each of said projecting machines movable to operative and inoperative position; a plurality of magnetic means, each adapted while energized for retaining its dowser in inoperative position; an electric circuit energizing each of said magnetic means; a make and break mechanism in each of said circuits adapted upon the swinging of one dowser to operative position for closing the circuit to the magnetic means of the other dowser, and upon the swinging of said one dowser to inoperative position for breaking the circuit to the magnetic means of the other dowsers.

3. A mechanism 01' the class described adapted for use with a pair of film projecting machines comprising: a dowser for each of said projecting machines; a magnetic means for each of said dowsers for normally. while energized, retaining its dowser in inoperative position; an electric circuit for each or said magnetic means; a make and break mechanism operable upon the movement of either dowser from one position to another, said make and break mechanism upon the movement 0! one dowser to inoperative position, breaking the circuit to the magnetic means of the other dowser and upon movement of the one dowser to operative position, closing the circuit to the magnetic means of said other dowser.

4. A mechanism of the class described adapted for use with a pair of film projecting machines, comprising: a motor for driving each oi said machines; a control switch for each of said motors for controlling the circuit thereto; a pair oi dowsers, each for controlling the pasage of light to the film, said dowsers being swingable to operative and inoperative position; an auxiliary control switch for each of said motors for controlling the circuit thereto, said auxiliary control switch upon movement to closing position, forcing said first mentioned control switch to open position and preventing its movement to closed position; resilient means normally tending to retain said auxiliary control switch in open position; an arm associated with each of said dowsers adapted upon swinging of the dowser to inoperative position for forcing said auxiliary control switch into closed position; a magnetic means for each of said dowsers for normally, while energized, retaining its dowser in inoperative position; an electric circuit for each of said magnetic means; a make and break mechanism operable upon the movement of either dowser from one position to another, said make and break mechanism upon the movement of one dowser to inoperative position, breaking the circuit to the magnetic means of the other dowser, and upon movement of one dowser to operative position, closing the circuit to the magnetic means of said other dowser.

ROBERT HENRI. FLOYD H. AKINS. 

